Swivel mounting of electrode support



June 26, 1945. s, HE RY ET A 2,379,064

SWIVEL MOUNTING OF ELECTRODE SUPPORTS Filed Feb. 10, 1944 lllll-k\ Z3 1Z4 z Z3 19 v a 4 16 INVENTORS. 15' CHE/63?) 1, c. I/I/EE/VEE 7 12 BY mmATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED s'r-Arss PA E OFFICE i Sidney J.Cherry, East Orange, and Leo 0. Werner, Bloomfield, N. J., assignors toWestinghouse Electric Corporation,' East Pittsburgh, Pa., a

, corporation oi? Pennsylvania I Application February 10, 1944,SerialNo. 521,774

4 Claims. (Cl. 250-215) This invention relates to electronicdevices, andmore particularly to mounting. of electrodes on lead-in or supportingwires.

,One of the problems encountered in the fabrication of electronicdevices is to obtain proper alignment of the electrodes that the properspacings therebetween may be secured and maintained. Because of the factthat glass is used for the press or other seal by which the lead-in wireis supported, and in turn, on which the electrodes are mounted, therequisite accuracy of lead-in wire position to automatically result inaccurate location of .the electrodes, cannot be assured, since thepressing of the glass or sealing of lead-in'wire thereto disturbs therelation of the lead-in wires with respect to each other. Normalprocedure heretofore has necessitated bending the lead-in wires afterthey are secured in the'glass stem and after the electrodes are securedupon the wires, This operation presents its difficulties of wire bendingto accurate positions, which is uncertain and tedious, and often resultsin cracking the glass stem. It is especially difiicult'of attainment inlarge electronic devices wherein the lead-in wires are so heavy thatthey cannot be readily j ment of electrodes, slows down fabricationseverely so that solution of the problem is of vital importance.

In its most general aspect, therefore, the present invention seeks andsecures a solution of the problem referred to above.

A general object of the invention is to obtain alignment of theelectrodes without necessitating distortion or bending of the lead-inwire.

Likewise a general object of the invention is to facilitate the aligningoperation for electrodes in electronic devices.

More specifically an object of the invention is to provide a junctionwhich will accommodate itself to a given position of the electrodeapplied to a lead-in wire.

Another object of the invention is to secure firm grip on the electrodefor permanent retention thereof in given position.

Yet another object of the invention is topermit lateral as well asangular adjustment in assembly of the electrode on its lead-in wire.

Still further objects of the invention will appear to persons skilled inthe art to which it appertains, asthe description progresses, both bydirect recitation thereof and Icy-implication from the context Figure 1is .a longitudinal sectional view of a portionof an-electron dischargedevice-showing the present invention in use therein; Figure 2 is alongitudinal sectionalyiew of the swivel mounting in its operativeposition with the electrode support; and, i r r Figure 3 is a sectionalview of a washerconstituting an element of the invention.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing,the reference numera1 l0 designates a glass flare forming part of theenvelope of an electronic device, said flare having, in the specificshowing herein, a plurality. ofv glass stems H for introduction of alead-in wire 12 from the exterior to the interior of the envelopelongitudinally through each stem. The invention is applicable withrespect to each of these lead-in wires, butfor brevity and clarity the,description will make particular reference hereinafter to the lead-inwire for grid I3. While there is no limitation intendedas to dimensions,it may be stated that the electronic device here indicated is one whichemploys heavy lead-in wires having diameters of three sixteenths of aninch and more. Such wires, especially where the longitudinal dimensionis relatively short, are exceedingly rigid and very diflicult to bend.

Various modes of sealing of the lead-in wire to the stem are availablein the art, the particular one chosen for illustration herein comprisingan inverted cup M the rim of which is sealed in the upper end of theglass stem and the end wall of which at the top of the cup is secured tothe leadin wire by welding or otherwise.

The end of the lead-in wire above the cup, that is, the end within theenvelope, is provided with a long screw-threaded shank l5. -Upon a lowerpart of this shank is threaded a positioning nut l6, and at the upperend is threaded thereon a clamping or look nut l1.

An electrode bracket I8 having an aperture 19 therethrough for thepurpose is situated on said threaded shank 15 between nuts I6 and IT.The aperture l9 in said bracket I8 is of greater diameter than theshank, thereby permitting the bracket to be shifted laterally withrespect to the threaded shank of the lead-in wire. Said bracket is aheavy metallic bar bent at a right angle intermediate of its ends so asto provide a horizontal arm 2| in which said aperture is provided, andto provide an upstanding arm 2| at the upper part of which the lower endof said grid I3 is secured. Other forms of brackets may be employed, andare in fact shown with respect to other electrodes, the essentialfeature thereof from standpoint of the present invention residin in theprovision of a transverse part or arm having an aperture for and ofgreater diameter than the shank of the lead-in wire thereto.

The end face of each nut 16 and II, which is directed toward thetransverse arm of the bracket, is concave, and interposed between theconcave surface of the nut and the flat face of the bracket arm, is awasher 22. Said washer has one end surface 23 which is convex on thesame radius of ourvature as that of the concave surface of the nut, andhas its opposite end surface 24 flat to rest upon the flat surface ofsaid bracket arm. The center of curvature of each contiguous concave andconvex surface is preferably located at the theoretic intersection ofthe axis thereof with the through of said threaded end of the lead-inwire and larger than said wire thereby enabling said bracket to be movedlaterally of the wire, and a nut on said threaded end clamping saidbracket thereon.

2. Electrodemounting structure comprising a lead-in wire having athreaded end, an electrode bracket on said threaded end, a washer onsaid 'threaded end, said washer having a plane face juxtaposed againstsaid bracket and having a convex surface on its face away from thebracket, and a nut on said threaded end, said nut having a concavesurface at its end toward the convex surface of the washer and adaptedto be juxtaperiphery of the other contiguous concave and convex surfacesof the other nut. This arrangement affords a minimum thickness for thewasher but at the same time permits angular adjustment or deflection ofthe flat surfaces thereof with the curved surfaces remaining contiguousto each other. Each washer has a central hole 25 therethrough normal tothe flat surface 24; said hole being of greater diameter than thediameter of the threaded shank l5 of the lead-in wire which passestherethrough. This construction consequently will permit the washer totilt as required upon said shank.

From the above description it will now be apparent that the bracketsupporting the electrode will have a limited universal movement, thatis, may be tilted in any desired direction and may be laterally moved asdesired in obtaining the alignment of the electrode attached thereto inrelation of that electrode to other electrodes in the device. After theelectrode has been positioned where desired, the lock nut I1 istightened and the electrode retained where adjusted.

We claim:

' 1. Electrode mounting structure comprising a lead-in wire having athreaded inner end, an electrode bracket on said threaded end, saidbracket having an opening therein for reception thereposed thereagainstfor clamping the bracket in angularly desired position on said threadedend.

3. Electrode mounting structure comprising a lead-in wire having athreaded end, an electrode bracket on said threaded end, a washer onsaid threaded end, said washer having a hole therethrough of greaterdiameter than said threaded end and having a plane faceiuxtaposedagainst said bracket and having a. convex surface on its face away fromthe bracket, and aunt on said threaded end, said nut having a concavesurface at its end toward the convex surface of the washer and adaptedto be juxtaposed therea'gainst for clamping the bracket in angularlydesired position onsaid threaded end. 1

4. Electrode mounting structure comprising a lead-in wire having athreaded inner end, an electrode bracket on said threaded end, saidbracket having an opening therein for reception therethrough of saidthreaded end of the lead-in wire and larger than said wire therebyenabling said bracket to be moved laterally of the wire, said washerhaving a plane face juxtaposed against said bracket and having a convexsurface on its face away from the bracket, and a nut on said threadedend, said nut having a concave surface at its end toward the convexsurface of the washer and adapted to be juxtaposed thereagainst forclamping the bracket in angularly desired position on said threaded end.

SIDNEY J. CHERRY; LEO'C. WERNER.

